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Trofim Lysenko Трохим Лисенко | |
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| Born | 29 September 1898 Karlivka, Russian Empire |
| Died | 20 November 1976 Moscow, RSFSR, Soviet Union |
| Nationality | Ukrainian |
| Field of study | Agronomy Epigenetics |
Trofim Denisovich Lysenko (29 September 1898 – 20 November 1976) was a Soviet biologist and epigeneticist. He studied legumes and cereals in order to expand the range where certain crops could be grown. His work was consistent with the discoveries of Darwin, Mendel, and Michurin and debunked August Weismann's claim that genes could only change by random mutations.[1]
Research
Some cereal seeds need be exposed to very low temperatures before they can germinate and start to grow. This process is called vernalization. Lysenko encouraged farmers in state and collective farms to plant their seeds in the spring, including in areas where it was previously impractical, because the cold temperatures in the winter would help the seeds grow.
Lysenko exposed winter wheat to cold temperatures after germinating in order to develop varieties of winter wheat that could be planted in the spring. The wheat inherited these changes, ending the need for labor-intensive vernalization.[1]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Lysenko’s great contribution to the understanding of heredity" (2010). Lalkar. Archived from the original on 2023-04-21.